Coffee tables come in thousands of different shapes and sizes, as do living areas. When making your purchase you need to find the size and shape that will best match your room whilst still looking and functioning how you require. Some people consider the look of a coffee table their number one priority and may prefer a very large coffee table for maximum visual impact. Others prefer to maximize the amount of floor space available for other uses. As a general guideline it is preferable to have a minimum of two feet around each side of the coffee table and it should be reachable, without standing, from each of the seating areas. Some people also suggest that your coffee table should be no larger than sixty percent of your sofas length. The height that you choose very much depends on what you intend to use it for. Modern coffee tables are often very low; however this may make using it for eating difficult. It is often a good idea to place an item of a similar size and shape to any table that you intend to buy in the room. This will give you a feel for how it will work with the space that you have.

A lip edge or tray top on a coffee table is always a smart choice if you have a tendency to spill your coffee or have kids that will be using the coffee table for snacks and drinks. They’re also good if you entertain often and don’t want to worry about red wine getting spilled on your carpet. Coffee tables should be the same height as the surrounding seating, with 18 inches being a good average (although it will depend on your furniture). If you select a coffee table with a lip, make sure the lip isn’t higher than the adjacent seating, or you’ll end up hitting your drink against the lip when you try to set it down. The idea is to put your drink down, not up.